一般的な前置詞の意味

Understanding prepositions can be one of the hardest parts of learning English, but understanding what some common prepositions mean can help you know when to use which preposition and make life a bit easier. However, it must be said that you often have to learn which prepositions are normally used with a particular noun, verb or adjective.

前置詞を理解することは、英語を学ぶ上でとても難しいことの一つです。しかし、一般的な前置詞の意味を理解することで、どの前置詞をいつ使えばよいかがわかり、英語での生活が少し楽になります。ただし、特定の名詞、動詞、形容詞にどの前置詞が通常使われるかを覚えなければならないことが多いのも事実です。

Here are nine common prepositions with their basic meanings and some examples:
ここでは、一般的な9つの前置詞について、その基本的な意味と例文をご紹介します。

1. to – “to” tells you the direction something is going. It is usually the endpoint. It is most commonly seen with go, but is used with many other verbs to express the endpoint. "to "は、何かが進む方向を示します、通常はその終点を表します。主にgoと一緒に使われることが多いですが、他の多くの動詞でも終点を表すために使われます。

This train goes to Shinjuku.
It was delivered to my house.
She sent the email to her boss.
I gave some flowers to her.

2. from – “from” tells where something started. Like to, it is also about direction or movement. "from "は何かが始まった場所を表します。toと同様に、方向性や動きを表す言葉でもあります。

She comes from Australia.
He bought this from Isetan.
She received some flowers from me.

3. with – “with” often tells you that two things come together or sets the topic. "with "は、2つのものが一緒になっていることを示したり、話題を設定したりすることが多いです。

I agree with you.
She went to Hawaii with her sister.

The boss is disappointed with you.
I’m angry with her.

4. for – “for” often tells you the purpose or reason for something.
for - "for "は、何かの目的や理由を示すことが多いです。

Let’s go out for lunch.
I made this for you.
They are searching for his keys.

5. by – “by” often tells you how something was done. "by "は、何かがどのように行われたかを示すことが多いです。

I came here by bicycle. This film was directed by Hitchcock. These cakes were made by Jane.

6. at – “at” often tells you a specific time, location or subject. "at "は、特定の時間や場所、対象を示すことが多いです。

The lesson finished at 9:05pm. They met at the cinema. He shouted at her. She is not bad at tennis.

7. in – “in” often tells you a general area of space or time. "in "は、空間や時間の大まかな範囲を示すことが多いです。

triplo is located in Shinjuku.
The room went quiet when she walked in.
They all took part in the meeting.
Who is the woman in the red dress?

8. of – “of” usually tells you about a relationship between things. "of "は通常、物事の間の関係について示します。

I’m not afraid of spiders.
It reminded her of her school days.
This is made of wood.
He dreamed of becoming a famous rock star.

9. about – “about” often tells you the topic of something. "about "は、何かのトピックを示すことが多いです。

The book was about psychology.
We need to talk about what happened.
We will laugh about this one day!
She was sorry about what she said.

I hope you find this useful Just be careful; in some phrases, especially idioms and phrasal verbs, the prepositions can take on other meanings.

この情報が役に立ってくれることを願いますが、ただ気をつけていただきたいのは、特にイディオムや句動詞などでは、前置詞が別の意味を持つことがあるということです。

Originally published in the triplo newsletter.